Aboriginal boriginal Way www.nativetitlesa.org
A publication of South Australian Native Title Services Far left: Juukan Gorge. Image courtesy of Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura Aboriginal Corporation. Left: Juukan Gorge from above. Image by Tony Major, National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia.
Issue 80, Spring 2020
Fallout continues from Juukan Gorge mining destruction Fallout continues over mining destruction to the ancient Aboriginal site Juukan Gorge, with executives sacked, a Senate inquiry and both shareholders from mining companies and the Aboriginal community calling for action. But is this enough to stop it from being repeated? Following the destruction of two 46,000-year-old sacred rock caves in the Pilbara’s Juukan Gorge by mining company Rio Tinto in late May, condemnation and alarm has sounded throughout not just Indigenous communities but wider Australia also. But the inquiry has heard that Rio Tinto is likely to destroy 124 more Aboriginal heritage sites at a new iron ore mine
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development under 100km away from Juukan Gorge, with approval already in place for 26 of these sites under section 18 of WA’s Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. Under these approvals, the Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation (YAC), which was attempting to prevent those additional sites from destruction, is unable to oppose the works. This is going on behind the scenes whilst Indigenous leaders from land councils across the country band together in the new First Nations Heritage Alliance, pursuing national reform to prevent further destruction of cultural heritage. Continued on page 4
South Australian sacred site Lake Torrens under review for mining exploration Here in South Australia, one of the largest inland salt lakes in the country, Lake Torrens, is both a national park and a site of cultural significance to the Barngarla, Kokatha and Adnyamathanha people, but it does not have native title protection and is under review for exploratory drilling. The South Australian Government is currently reviewing Lake Torrens, 70km south east of Roxby Downs, for exploratory drilling by Kelaray, an Australian subsidiary of mining company Argonaut Resources.
The Kokatha, Barngarla and Adnyamathanha people have undergone a 10-year legal battle to protect the lake from mining and exploration, culminating in the Lake Torrens Overlap Proceedings in 2016, when the Federal Court determined that native title would not be given to any group. “I am not persuaded that a determination of native title in favour of any of the three applicants should be made in respect of any part of the claim area,” said Justice John Mansfield in his determination. Continued on page 5
Raise the age of criminal responsibility First Indigenous artist awarded the Archibald Prize Celebrating OUR MOB with exhibition and spoken word poetry Memories of Mr De Rose
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